GEOL 12 - Physical Oceanography

Fall Semester - 2007	INSTRUCTOR: SONJIA M. LEYVA

LECTURE: W 06:30 - 10:00 PM	ROOM: E 211

WEBPAGE: www.calstatela.edu/faculty/sleyva	EMAIL: smleyva@pasadena.edu

Course objectives: Principles and practices of marine geology and physical oceanography: plate tectonics and sea-floor spreading; oceanic volcanism and earthquakes, the study of man's use and misuse of the ocean, and human needs vs. ecological limits.

Text & Materials:

•	Essentials of Oceanography, 9th Edition by Trujillo & Thurman, in addition to handouts & videos. There is also a web site for the textbook <http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_thurman_essofocean_8 >. It has a good summary of each chapter with illustrations, definitions, sample quizzes and other things of interest that I think it will be useful for you.

•	Calculator, ruler (standard & metric), color pencils, plus other materials (will be discussed in class)

Tentative Schedule

Week	Date	Topic	Chapter
1	8/29	Lecture: Introduction	Chapter 1
Lecture: Exploring the Oceans
2	9/5	Lecture: Plate Tectonics

Activity: Plate Tectonics (due 9/19)	Chapter 2
3	9/12
4	9/19	Lecture: Marine Provinces	Chapter 3
5	9/26	Lecture: Marine Sediments	Chapter 4
6	10/3	Lecture: Seawater	Chapter 5
7	10/10	Lecture: Air-Sea Interactions

Activity: Wind Belts (due 10/17)	Chapter 6

8	10/17	Midterm exam!
Activity: Waves, Beaches and Coasts Video (due 11/7)
9	10/24	Presentations #1
10	10/31	Lecture: Ocean Circulation

Activity: Ocean Circulation Patterns (due 11/5)	Chapter 7
11	11/7	Lecture: Waves	Chapter 8
Activity: Tsunami Video (due 11/14)
12	11/14	Lecture: Tides	Chapter 9
Activity: Tidal Patterns (due 11/21)
13	11/21	Lecture: Coastal Processes

Activity: Beach Sands (due 11/28)	Chapter 10
14	11/28	Presentations #2
15	12/5	Lecture: The Coastal Ocean	Chapter 11
Lecture: The Marine Habitat	Chapter 12
16	12/12	Final Exam - 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

REQUIREMENTS

Exams - There will be two exams - one midterm and one final; each exam is worth 100 points. Make-up exams will be given only to those who can verify a valid excuse for missing an exam. The make-up will be given at a time that is mutually agreeable to both the student and myself, but must be arranged prior to the initial exam. Failure to take the make-up exam within two weeks of the original exam date will result in the missed exam counting in as a zero. In addition, the exam question sheet must be returned to me after the exam and after the exam review. Failure to do so will result in a ten (10)-point reduction in the student's grade for that exam.

Homework/Activities - There will be several in-class activities during the course of this class. You are responsible for bringing in the necessary supplies. In addition, you will be responsible for answering a few of the "end-of-chapter" review/critical thinking question. Each assignment is worth 20 - 30 points each. You will be graded on neatness, completeness of activity, and ability to follow directions. Late work will not be accepted.

Presentations - Each student will participate in two group presentations to be given in class during the semester. Guidelines and topics for these presentation are outlined on the attached pages. Each presentation is worth 100 points.

Attendance - Students are expected to attend each class session and to arrive on time. It will be difficult to make up missed class sessions. However, if you miss a class session of valid reasons (illness), it will up to you to make arrangements to complete the activity. Students who miss a class due to an unexcused absence will NOT be allow to make up the work. Make-up labs/assignments will be given only to those who can verify a valid excuse for missing the assignment. The make-up lab/assignment will given at a time that is mutually agreeable to both the student and myself. Failure to take the make-up lab/assignment within one week of the original lab/assignment date OR before the last week of class will result in the missed exam/lab/assignment counting in as a zero.

METHODS OF EVALUATION

Total possible class points will come from the following assignments:

Points Possible	Total Points Possible	% of Grade
Exams	2 exams at 100 points each	200	33%
Activities	9 activities at 10 - 30 points each	200	33%
Presentation	2 at 100 points each	200	33%
Total	600	100%

You may do up to 20 points of extra credit work to raise your total points earned (please see attached list). All extra credit is due the last day of class – not the day of the final. Your grade is based on your percentage score out of 600 points:

A = > 90%	> 540.0 points
B = 80 - 89%	480.0 - 539.9 points
C = 70 - 79%	420.0 - 479.9 points
D = 60 - 69%	360.0 - 419.9 points
F = < 60%	< 360.0 points
Your grades will be available on the class website, www.calstatela.edu/faculty/sleyva/grades/index.html.

Want to get a good grade? Here's how:

•	Attend every class.

•	Take notes and review them after class and before exams.

•	Read your textbook.

•	Ask questions. You are responsible for studying.

Presentations

Each student will participate in a group presentation to be given to the class during the semester. Placement into groups will be done by a lottery, as will the assignment of topics. The topics are outlined in your textbook and will not be discussed in my lectures. Your group will be leading the class in learning about your chosen subject.

The presentations are expected to be 10 - 15 minutes in length. The format of the presentation is up to the group. You may use the chalkboard, overheads, a PowerPoint presentation, poster board, or any other method you deem worthy. Recall that your primary goal is to teach your fellow students. When preparing your presentation, keep in mind that you need to clear and concise, have a logical flow of ideas, keep your text legible (e.g., use a large enough font so that the people in the back can see), use relevant information, and be professional.

Your presentations will be graded as follows (rubric included on next page):

40%	Accuracy of content.

20%	Visual quality of presentation

20%	Quality of presentation

20%	"Self Grades" - each member of the group will grade the other members on the quality of their participation to the project. So if one member flakes out and the others have to pick up the slack, this is their chance to let it be known.

Topics:

1.	Exploration via submersibles	8th week
2.	Navigation at sea
3.	Bermuda Triangle
4.	Use of diatoms
5.	History of the Mediterranean Sea
6.	K-T event
7.	Deep Sea Drilling
8.	OTEC systems
9.	Galveston Hurricane
10.	SOFAR channel
11.	Ben Franklin and the Gulf Stream
1.	Lituya Bay, Alaska tsunami	14th week
2.	Rogue Waves
3.	Tidal Bores
4.	Moving the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
5.	Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
6.	Deep Scattering Layer
7.	Red Tides
8.	Peruvian Anchoveta Fishery
9.	Killer Whales
10.	Coral Bleaching
11.	How long would an organism's remains remain on the see floor?

Student Presentations

Scoring:

Good (all criteria met or exceeded)	= full points

Fair (most criteria met, a few mistakes) = 1/2 of possible points

Poor (few criteria met, lots of mistakes)	= 1/4 of possible points

None (not done)	= no points

Points possible
Accuracy of content (40 points)
Understanding of material being presented	20 points
Quality of research	10 points
Accuracy of material being presented	10 points
Visual quality of presentation (20 points)
Text easy to read and not cluttered	5 points
Quality of images or props	5 points
Logical flow of ideas	5 points
Stays within time limits (-½ point for each minute over/under )	5 points
Quality of presentation (20 points)
Delivery (speaks clearly, not rushed, pronounces words correctly)	5 points
Speaks to class, not to the projection screen	5 points
Material relavent to topic	10 points
"Self Grades" - see attached evaluations (10 points)	10 points
Class Evaluations (Average of all evaluations - 10 points)	10 points
Total	100 points
==============================================================================

Student Presentation Co-Evaluation (To be submitted by group members)

Name of Evaluee: _____________________________	Role: __________________________

Presentation:	____________________________________________________________________

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 is the worst, 5 is the best), rate the following:

___________________	Participation (to what extent did the individual participate?)

___________________	Quality of involvment (how valuable was the person's involvement in the project?

==============================================================================

Student Presentation Co-Evaluation (To be submitted by group members)

Name of Evaluee: _____________________________	Role: __________________________

Presentation:	____________________________________________________________________

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 is the worst, 5 is the best), rate the following:

___________________	Participation (to what extent did the individual participate?)

___________________	Quality of involvment (how valuable was the person's involvement in the project?

EXTRA CREDIT

You have the opportunity to earn extra credit if you wish. All work must be turned in the class period before the final exam. You may earn up to 20 points extra credit by doing any combination of the following assignments listed below.

FORMAT for Reports (for #1 - #3):

•	1 to 2 pages, typed, 1.5 spacing, standard margins and fonts and concise.

•	The quality of your English composition is important.

•	Don't forget to use correct essay form - Intro paragraph with thesis statement, three examples, and conclusion paragraph.

•	Don't forget to cite your references in the appropriate format.

•	Make sure your name is on your report.

•	Please remember that I am concerned about the environment. I do not want plastic covers, extra cover pages, or any other type of binder. Save paper and you save trees. Save plastic and you save petroleum.

1.	In essay format, discuss three ways that you can help clean up the oceans or coasts. (5 points)

2.	Find 3 articles that deal with geological issues and write a summary of each article. Combine the 3 summaries into a paper that is no more than 2 pages long. Articles may be found in the Los Angeles Times, Discover Magazine, Newsweek, Time Magazine, California Geology (in the Library), etc. Use published papers, not Internet articles. Provide your opinion or analysis. A bibliography and copies of your articles are rquired as well. (15 points)

3.	Write a book report on any one of the books listed below. (15 points)

a.	"Control of Nature" by John McPhee

b.	"Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America" by John M. Barry

c.	"Entropy: Into the Greenhouse World" by Jeremy Rifkin

d.	"Manmade Disaster: The Story of the St. Francis Dam Disaster" by Charles Outland

e.	"The Johnstown Flood" by David McCullough

f.	"Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water" by Marc Reisner

g.	"Earthquake: The Destruction of San Francisco" by Thomas Gordon and Max Witts

h.	"The Day the World Ended" by Thomas Gordon and Max Witts (This is the story of the eruption of Mt. Pelee and the destruction of St. Pierre.)

i.	"Salt: A World History" by Mark Kurlansky

j.	"Isaac's Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History" by Erik Larson

4.	Do one of the Virtual Classware assignments located at http://vcourseware.calstatela.edu/. You may choose one of the following: Global Warming, Virtual Earthquake, Virtual Dating, or Virtual River. Upon completion of the assignment, you will be awarded a certificate that you will need to print out and turn in. You may do more than one of the exercises. (10 points)

5.	Your textbook has a website with self tests (wps.prenhall.com/esm_thurman_essofocean_8). You may do ONE self test (either multiple choice, true/false, identification, etc) PER chapter, for every chapter we cover in class. Email me the results, but also either print out or email a copy to yourself as well just in case. (1 point per chapter)